What happens in Academic Senate?

Find all your answers about Academic Senate here and keep up-to-date with the latest discussions and meeting outcomes.

What is the Academic Senate?

Academic Senate is the principal academic body of the University of Newcastle.

Who is the Academic Senate?

Most members of the Academic Senate are elected by the academic staff of the University. Other members are elected student members or, ex officio.

What does Academic Senate do?

The Academic Senate is the primary forum for debate on academic issues in the University.  It approves and amends academic policies and has a major role in academic quality assurance processes through its Committees.

Academic Senate has a mission to promote and enhance the excellence of the core academic activities in our institution - teaching and research.

How do I find out about Academic Senate decisions?

Academic Senate In Brief provides members and stakeholders with an overview of the discussions and outcomes of the last meeting. The March issue is now available for online viewing and downloading.

Academic Senate In Brief  also provides information

• New programs
• New or amended policies and procedures, including details of the amended clauses; and
• Some of the policies that are currently under review.

Important reminders

• Unconfirmed Minutes from the March meeting are now available
• The next meeting of Academic Senate is scheduled for 23 May 2012 in the IDC committee meeting room
• Documents for inclusion in the next meeting's agenda are due on 9 May 2012
• Discussion forums are now open in the Academic Senate Exchange (Blackboard) and a Policy Blog has been set up so that you can comment on the policy streamlining project etc
• Topical academic matters can be viewed online at Academic Senate Matters.